Abstract

Spectral broadening by the nonlinear dielectric response of anisotropic molecules has been observed and explained by Bloembergen and Lallemand.(1) Any two frequencies, say ω1 and ω2, present in the incident optical beam exert a torque on the molecules at a frequency (ω1-ω2). The resultant oscillation of the average molecular orientation causes a modulation of the dielectric constant at ω1-ω2.